Special Issues

Geography and You understands and appreciates the need for access to quality information. It is for this foremost cause that the magazine was conceived. In keeping with our tradition of imparting and sharing well researched, and fully credited content for 16 long years, many ministries of Government of India and the State Governments has choosen us to o a special issue on their achievement for the benefits of our readers and policy makers we have done 8 issues of G’nY from 2011 onwards. We hope you will find them useful and delightful.
Happy reading. – Editor, G’nY

Transforming Lives With Science

The current edition of Geography and You is a special issue on celebrating ten years of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). The magazine was released on July 27, 2016 which is the foundation day of MoES. Dr. K J Ramesh, Advisor and Head, Atmospheric Science and Services, MoES is our guest editor for this issue. This publication is a candid microcosm of some of the efforts that MoES is making towards transforming the lives for the better for multitude of Indians through the use of science. G’nY has been following developments in the MoES and brings you a special issue on various activities that mark its life-changing efforts. Publishing this issue has been most awarding for G’nY and gave us the opportunities to interact with many stalwarts of the scientific domain.

Waterways

The Waterways Issue of G’nY focuses on challenges to the water transport sector India. From pitfalls to ambitions of the Indian maritime sector are highlighted using valuable inputs from the experts in the field. The present government is all set to boost commerce along waterways and thus the G’nY Waterways issue is dedicated to celebrate the effort. If the government’s ambitious plans of turning 101 water bodies of India into national waterways is realized, it would substantially ease the pressure on road and rail transport thereby reducing logistics cost of the country. The issue explores public-private partnership required to boost Inland waterways in India and also outlines the ‘Jal Marg Vikas’. India needs severe remodeling if navigability is to be enhanced culminating in the creation of state-of-the-art terminals, modal links and night navigation facilities and more

The Panchayat

The special issue on the efficacy of panchayati raj systems (G’nY November-December 2014) in India provides valuable insights into new areas of development and progress. It is a heartening research document that has a wide range of invaluable articles highlighting the positives, alongside the challenges our unique grassroots system throws up. The features range from a dialogue on panchayat revenues by Manish Gupta, and social audit by George Mathew, to education and disaster management by the panchayat contributed by Tanu Shikha Arya and Mahi Pal. Nupur Tiwari and N Sivanna have succinctly presented women leadership in the panchayati raj institutions and shortfalls therein. The wholesomeness of the issue is in its digitization sections, which carries lead articles by Avtar Singh Sahota and Nirmala.

Women in Panchayat

The 73rd Amendment laid the foundation for increasing the presence of women in the panchayati raj institutions. The divide between men and women in the public sphere was too great to be bridged by the Amendment, and demanded assistance by government and non-government agencies. The very first issue of 2014 explores concerns of women in the panchayat, and presents the ground work that is being done to make women an integral part of the development process.

Sustainable Fertiliser Usage

The sustainable fertiliser issues deals with state wise pattern of fertiliser consumption, An essay on the urgent need of balanced fertilser usage for food security; Fertiliser usage perspectives,A feature on why the fertiliser industry is failing to meet productivity goals. Pricing and subsidy of fertilisers, A short treatise on why it is imperative to move to nutrient based applications and why the Indian government needs to envisage a policy shift; Natural gas for fertiliser production, An essay on why natural gas is the best fuel for fertilser production and why India is facing a shortage in this regard.

Earth Science Technologies

Our learnings about earth systems begin from pre-puranic times when man started working out the hows and whys of storms, eclipses, monsoons and so on. Modern science however has specialised its outlook with well defined study areas, which broadly encompasses geology, meteorology, oceanography and astronomy. This issue of G’nY traces all the new happenings in the domain of earth science technologies. A safer future being the focus, the articles range from ocean related sciences to land driven ones by renowned scientists from all over the nation.

The Isles of lakshadweep

Even though there is dominance of Islam, the social structure of the islanders is based on the matrilineal kinship and caste system that reflects the Hindu customs of Kerala, Lakshadweep: State of Environment Precious and rare, the Lakshadweep group of islands is in urgent need of sustainable developmental activities.Stringent laws and policies will help the state of environment of this fragile lands, Field based studies carried out in Lakshadweep for over two decades examine the islanders’ dependence on coral reefs. Data reveal that mainstream influences are leading to significant changes in cultural norms with evidences of a breakdown of the traditional matrilineal society.

Sustainable Futures

Green your homes for sustainable futures. Our ancestors sense of design arouse out of their necessity to brave the odds – thick walls insulating against the heat, small windows protecting against direct sunlight, central courtyards allowing adequate flow of fresh air, watered khus khus curtains over open balconies, and more. We strongly recommend that you opt for such options when you refurbish your homes.